Mounting Rack Structure and Mounting Hole Adapter Thereof

ABSTRACT

A mounting rack structure includes a rack body having a plurality of downward extended supporting legs, each of which is provided near a distal end with an mounting hole; a plurality of mounting hole adapters; and a plurality of fastening elements. The mounting hole adapter includes at least one vertical extension portion with a first retaining flange and a central passage having at least one second retaining flange formed therearound; and is assembled to the mounting hole with the first retaining flange firmly pressed against one side of the supporting leg. The fastening element can be extended through the central passage of the mounting hole adapter to firmly lock the supporting leg and accordingly the rack body to a heat-generating unit. With the mounting hole adapter, the mounting rack structure can be used with different types of fastening elements to save the cost for making different molds.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/536,502, filed on Aug. 6, 2009, titled Mounting RackStructure and Mounting Hole Adapter Thereof, listing Sheng-Huang Lin asinventor. This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patentapplication No. 098209807 filed on Jun. 4, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting hole adapter, and moreparticularly to a mounting hole adapter for assembling to a mountinghole on a mounting rack, allowing the mounting rack to be used withdifferent types of fastening elements without the need of makingadditional molds to produce mounting racks with differently shapedmounting holes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Following the rapid development in the electronic and informationindustrial fields, all kinds of electronic products, such as computersand notebook computers, have been more widely adopted among users andapplied to various fields. For example, among different electronicproducts, the central processing unit (CPU) of the currently availablecomputers has increased computing and processing speed and expandedaccess capacity. However, the CPU operating at high speed would alsoproduce a large amount of heat during the operation thereof.

Similarly, when an electronic device operates, internal electronicelements thereof will produce a large amount of heat. Thus, anadditional heat dissipating unit is required to enhance heat dissipationof the electronic device, lest the electronic elements thereof shouldhave lowered working efficiency or become damaged due to overheating.The heat dissipating unit is usually a radiating fin assembly or a heatsink with at least one cooling fan assembled thereto, so that thecooling fan produces cooling airflow toward the heat dissipating unit toforcedly carry away the heat transferred to the heat dissipating unitand thereby upgrade the overall heat dissipation performance of theelectronic device. The radiating fin assembly or the heat sink isusually firmly connected to the heat-producing electronic elements via amounting rack to efficiently transfer and dissipate the heat produced bythe electronic elements.

FIG. 1A shows a first conventional mounting rack structure 1, whichincludes a rack body 11 having an upper side 12, to which a cooling fanand/or a radiating fin assembly can be mounted, and a plurality ofsupporting legs 13 downward extended from four corners of the upper side12. The supporting legs 13 each have a round mounting hole 14 formednear a distal end thereof, so that a spring screw 15 can be extendedthrough the round mounting hole 14 to engage with a jam nut 16 andtherefore be held to the supporting leg 13. The use of the spring screws15 depends on the actual need in connecting the mounting rack structure1 to a heat-producing unit.

FIG. 1B shows a second conventional mounting rack structure 2, whichincludes a rack body 21 having an upper side 22 and a plurality ofsupporting legs 23 downward extended from four corners of the upper side22. The supporting legs 23 each have an oblong mounting hole 24 formednear a distal end thereof, so that an upper part 25 and a lower part 26of a push-type screw assembly can be extended through the oblongmounting hole 24 to engage with each other and therefore be held to thesupporting leg 23. The use of the upper and lower parts 25, 26 of apush-type screw assemblies depends on the actual need in connecting themounting rack structure 2 to a heat-producing unit.

Both of the conventional mounting rack structures 1, 2 can be connectedto a circuit board or a backplate of the heat-producing unit. However,the spring screws 15 can only be used with the round mounting holes 14on the mounting rack structure 1 to lock the supporting legs 13 to theheat-producing unit. When the spring screws 15 are used with the oblongmounting holes 24, the spring screws 15 can not be firmly held in theoblong mounting holes 24. Similarly, the upper and the lower parts 25,26 of the push-type screw assemblies can not be used with the roundmounting holes 14. Therefore, the mounting rack structures 1, 2 are notexchangeable with each other for use. A manufacturer has to expend extramoney to make two molds for forming two mounting rack structures havingdifferently shaped mounting holes.

In brief, the conventional mounting rack structures have the followingdisadvantages: (1) They are not exchangeable for use; and (2) increasedcost is required to make molds for forming different mounting rackstructures.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a mounting hole adapterfor mounting rack structure, so that the same mounting rack can be usedwith different types of fastening elements and the cost for makingadditional molds can be saved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a mounting holeadapter for assembling to a mounting hole on a mounting rack, so thatthe mounting rack can be used with different types of fasteningelements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting rackstructure that can be used with different types of fastening elementsaccording to actual need.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mounting rackstructure for use with different types of fastening elements, so as tosave the cost of making additional molds for producing mounting rackswith differently shaped mounting holes.

To achieve the above and other objects, the mounting hole adapter formounting rack structure according to the present invention includes amain body having at least one extension portion vertically extended fromone of two opposite faces of the main body. The extension portion isprovided at a distal end with a radially and horizontally outwardextended first retaining flange. The first retaining flange has a freeedge formed into a first beveled surface. The main body of the mountinghole adapter is formed at a central position with a central passage andat least one second retaining flange radially extended into the centralpassage. The second retaining flange has a free edge formed into asecond beveled surface. And, a buffer space is formed on the main bodyat an outer side of each of the extension portion and the secondretaining flange.

And, the mounting rack structure according to the present inventionincludes a rack body, a plurality of mounting hole adapters, and aplurality of fastening elements. The rack body has a support portion,from which a plurality of supporting legs is downward extended, and eachof the supporting legs is provided near a distal end with a mountinghole. Each of the mounting hole adapters is assembled to one mountinghole, and the fastening element can be extended through the centralpassage of the mounting hole adapter. The fastening element has adiameter-reduced section corresponding to the second retaining flangeand can therefore be held to the mounting hole adapter and accordinglyto the supporting leg of the rack body. Therefore, the mounting rackstructure can be locked to a heat-producing unit using different typesof fastening elements, and the cost of making additional molds toproduce mounting racks with different mounting holes can be saved.

In brief, the present invention provides the following advantages: (1)the mounting rack structure can be used with different types offastening elements; and (2) the cost of making additional molds toproduce mounting racks with different mounting holes can be saved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing a first conventionalmounting rack structure and the fastening elements thereof;

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view showing a second conventionalmounting rack structure and the fastening elements thereof;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a mounting hole adapter formounting rack structure according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting rack structureaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with whichthe mounting hole adapter of FIG. 2A is used;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are fragmentary perspective views showing the manner ofassembling the mounting hole adapter of FIG. 2A to the mounting rackstructure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4C is a bottom view of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of a mounting hole adapter formounting rack structure according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting rackstructure according to the preferred embodiment of the present inventionused with the mounting hole adapter of FIG. 5A;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are fragmentary perspective views showing the manner ofassembling the mounting hole adapter of FIG. 5A to the mounting rackstructure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7C is a bottom view of FIG. 7B;

FIG. 8A is a bottom view of a variation of the mounting hole adapter ofFIG. 2A;

FIG. 8B is a fragmentary bottom perspective view showing the mountinghole adapter of FIG. 8A assembled to the mounting rack structureaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8C is a top view of a variation of the mounting hole adapter ofFIG. 5A;

FIG. 8D is a fragmentary top perspective view showing the mounting holeadapter of FIG. 8C assembled to the mounting rack structure according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a mounting rack structure according toanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9B is a fragmentary top perspective view showing the assembling ofthe mounting hole adapter of FIG. 2A to the mounting rack structure ofFIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B at the same time, in which a mountinghole adapter 3 for mounting rack structure according to a firstembodiment of the present invention is shown. The mounting hole adapter3 includes a main body 4 having a top and a bottom face. At least oneextension portion 41 is vertically downward extended from the bottomface of the main body 4. In the illustrated embodiment, there are showntwo diametrically opposite extension portions 41. Each of the extensionportions 41 is provided at a distal end with a radially and horizontallyoutward extended first retaining flange 411. The first retaining flange411 has a free edge formed into a first beveled surface 4111. The mainbody 4 of the mounting hole adapter 3 is formed at a central positionwith a central passage 42 and at least one second retaining flange 43radially extended into the central passage 42. In the illustratedembodiment, there are formed of four spaced second retaining flanges 43.Each of the second retaining flanges 43 has a free edge formed into asecond beveled surface 431. And, a buffer space 44 is formed on the mainbody 4 at a radially outer side of each of the extension portions 41 andthe second retaining flanges 43.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting rack structure 5according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with whichthe mounting hole adapter 3 can be used. The mounting rack structure 5includes a rack body 6 and a plurality of fastening elements 7. The rackbody 6 has an upper side serving as a support portion 61, to which acooling fan and/or a heat sink (not shown) can be mounted. A pluralityof spaced supporting legs 62 is downward extended from a lower side ofthe rack body 6. Each of the supporting legs 62 is provided at a distalend thereof with a mounting hole 621. By extending two mating fasteningelements, such as the upper and lower parts 25, 26 of the push-typescrew assembly as shown in FIG. 1B, directly through each of themounting holes 621, the rack body 6 can be fixedly connected to aheat-producing unit (not shown). On the other hand, each of the mountingholes 621 can have one of the mounting hole adapters 3 assembledthereto, so that the fastening elements 7 similar to the spring screwsshown in FIG. 7A can be extended through the mounting hole adapters 3 tofixedly connect the rack body 6 to the heat-producing product.

Please refer to FIGS. 4A to 4C. To assemble the mounting hole adapter 3to the mounting hole 621, simply extend the extension portion 41 at thebottom face of the mounting hole adapter 3 down through the mountinghole 621. The first beveled surfaces 4111 on the extension portions 41facilitate easy movement of the extension portions 41 through themounting hole 621. Moreover, the buffer spaces 44 provided on the mainbody 4 allow the extension portions 41 to elastically radially inwardretract when the extension portions 41 are moved into the mounting hole621, and allow the extension portions 41 to elastically restore torespective radially outward position when the extension portions 41 havebeen fully located in the mounting hole 621. At this point, the firstretaining flanges 411 located at the distal ends of the extensionportions 41 are pressed against a lower side of the supporting leg 62surrounding the mounting hole 621 to hold the mounting hole adapter 3 tothe mounting hole 621 and accordingly, the supporting leg 62.

After the mounting hole adapter 3 is firmly assembled to the mountinghole 621 on the supporting leg 62, the fastening element 7 can bedownward extended from an upper side of the mounting hole 621 throughthe central passage 42 of the mounting hole adapter 3 to be clampedamong the second retaining flanges 43. The second beveled surfaces 431on the free edge of the second retaining flanges 43 facilitate easymovement of the fastening element 7 into the central passage 42.Further, the buffer spaces 44 located at the outer side of the secondretaining flanges 43 allow the second retaining flanges 43 toelastically radially outward retract when the fastening element 7 ismoved into the central passage 42, and allow the second retainingflanges 43 to elastically restore to respective radially inward positionwhen a diameter-reduced engaging section 71 on the fastening element 7is moved through the central passage 42 to locate among the secondretaining flanges 431. At this point, the fastening element 7 with anelastic element 72 fitted therearound is held to the mounting holeadapter 3 and accordingly, the mounting hole 621. That is, by providingthe mounting hole adapters 3, the mounting rack structure 5 can beconnected to a heat-producing unit with different types of fasteningelements. Therefore, the cost for making additional molds to producemounting rack structures with differently shaped mounting holes can besaved.

Please refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B at the same time, in which a mountinghole adapter 8 for mounting rack structure according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is shown. The mounting hole adapter8 includes a main body 9 having a top and a bottom face. At least oneextension portion 91 is vertically upward extended from the top face ofthe main body 9. In the illustrated embodiment, there are shown twodiametrically opposite extension portions 91. Each of the extensionportions 91 is provided at a distal end with a radially and horizontallyoutward extended first retaining flange 911. The first retaining flange911 has a free edge formed into a first beveled surface 9111. The mainbody 9 of the mounting hole adapter 8 is formed at a central positionwith a central passage 92 and at least one second retaining flange 93radially extended into the central passage 92. In the illustratedembodiment, there are formed of four spaced second retaining flanges 93.Each of the second retaining flanges 93 has a free edge formed into asecond beveled surface 931. And, a buffer space 94 is formed on the mainbody 9 at a radially outer side of each of the extension portions 91 andthe second retaining flanges 93.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting rackstructure 5 according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention being used with the mounting hole adapters 8. The mountingrack structure 5 includes a rack body 6 and a plurality of fasteningelements 7. The rack body 6 has an upper side serving as a supportportion 61, to which a cooling fan and/or a heat sink (not shown) can bemounted. A plurality of spaced supporting legs 62 is downward extendedfrom a lower side of the rack body 6. Each of the supporting legs 62 isprovided at a distal end thereof with a mounting hole 621. By extendingtwo mating fastening elements, such as the upper and lower parts 25, 26of the push-type screw assembly shown in FIG. 1B, directly through eachof the mounting holes 621, the rack body 6 can be fixedly connected to aheat-producing product (not shown). On the other hand, each of themounting holes 621 can have one of the mounting hole adapters 8assembled thereto, so that the fastening elements 7 similar to thespring screws shown in FIG. 1A can be extended through the mounting holeadapters 8 to fixedly connect the rack body 6 to the heat-producingproduct.

Please refer to FIGS. 7A to 7C. To assemble the mounting hole adapter 8to the mounting hole 621, simply extend the extension portion 91 at thetop face of the mounting hole adapter 8 upward through the mounting hole621. The first beveled surfaces 9111 on the extension portions 91facilitate easy movement of the extension portions 91 through themounting hole 621. Moreover, the buffer spaces 94 provided on the mainbody 9 allow the extension portions 91 to elastically radially inwardretract when the extension portions 91 are upward moved into themounting hole 621, and allow the extension portions 91 to elasticallyrestore to respective radially outward position when the extensionportions 91 have been fully located in the mounting hole 621. At thispoint, the first retaining flanges 911 located at the distal ends of theextension portions 91 are pressed against an upper side of thesupporting leg 62 surrounding the mounting hole 621 to hold the mountinghole adapter 8 to the mounting hole 621 and accordingly, the supportingleg 62.

After the mounting hole adapter 8 is firmly assembled to the mountinghole 621 on the supporting leg 62, the fastening element 7 can bedownward extended from an upper side of the mounting hole 621 throughthe central passage 92 of the mounting hole adapter 8 to be clampedamong the second retaining flanges 93. The second beveled surfaces 931on the free edge of the second retaining flanges 93 facilitate easymovement of the fastening element 7 into the central passage 92.Further, the buffer spaces 94 located at the outer side of the secondretaining flanges 93 allow the second retaining flanges 93 toelastically radially outward retract when the fastening element 7 ismoved into the central passage 92, and allow the second retainingflanges 93 to elastically restore to respective radially inward positionwhen the diameter-reduced engaging section 71 on the fastening element 7is moved to locate among the second retaining flanges 931. At thispoint, the fastening element 7 with the elastic element 72 fittedtherearound is held to the mounting hole adapter 8 and accordingly, themounting hole 621. That is, by providing the mounting hole adapters 8,the mounting rack structure 5 can be connected to the heat-producingunit with different types of fastening elements. Therefore, the cost formaking additional molds to produce mounting rack structures withdifferently shaped mounting holes can be saved.

FIG. 8A is a bottom perspective view of a variation of the mounting holeadapter 3, and FIG. 8B is a fragmentary bottom perspective view showingthe assembling of the mounting hole adaptor 3 of FIG. 8A to a mountinghole 621. In the variation of FIG. 8A, the mounting hole adapter 3 has amain body 4 having a top and a bottom face. At least one extensionportion 41 is vertically downward extended from the bottom face of themain body 4. In the illustrated embodiment, there are shown twodiametrically opposite extension portions 41. Each of the extensionportions 41 is provided at a distal end with a radially and horizontallyoutward extended first retaining flange 411. The first retaining flange411 has a free edge formed into a first beveled surface 4111. At leastone of the extension portions 41 is provided with an expanded portion412 angularly located to one side of the first retaining flange 411.Each of the mounting holes 621 on the rack body 6 of the mounting rackstructure 5 is provided at a predetermined position with an outwardextended locating slot 622 for engaging with and accordingly holding theupper and lower parts 25, 26 of the push-type screw assembly (see FIG.1B) in place in the mounting hole 621. When the mounting hole adapter 3of FIG. 8A is assembled to the mounting hole 621, the expanded portion412 can be correspondingly inserted in the locating slot 622 to therebymore firmly hold the mounting hole adapter 3 in place in the mountinghole 621.

FIG. 8C is a top perspective view of a variation of the mounting holeadapter 8, and FIG. 8D is a fragmentary top perspective view showing theassembling of the mounting hole adaptor 8 of FIG. 8C to a mounting hole621. In the variation of FIG. 8C, the mounting hole adapter 8 has a mainbody 9 having a top and a bottom face. At least one extension portion 91is vertically downward extended from the top face of the main body 9. Inthe illustrated embodiment, there are shown two diametrically oppositeextension portions 91. Each of the extension portions 91 is provided ata distal end with a radially and horizontally outward extended firstretaining flange 911. The first retaining flange 911 has a free edgeformed into a first beveled surface 9111. At least one of the extensionportions 91 is provided with an expanded portion 912 angularly locatedto one side of the first retaining flange 911. When the mounting holeadapter 8 of FIG. 8C is assembled to the mounting hole 621, the expandedportion 912 can be correspondingly inserted in the locating slot 622 tothereby more firmly hold the mounting hole adapter 8 in place in themounting hole 621.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a mounting rack structure 10 accordingto another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 9B is afragmentary top perspective view showing the assembling of the mountinghole adapter 3 of FIG. 2A to the mounting rack structure 10 of FIG. 9A.The mounting rack structure 10 is configured as a horizontally extendedbackplate-type mounting rack, and includes a rack body 101 and aplurality of fastening elements 102. The rack body 101 has an upper sideserving as a support portion 1011, and a plurality of supporting legs1012 horizontally and radially outward extended from the rack body 101.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9A, there are provided foursupporting legs 1012. Each of the supporting legs 1012 is provided neara distal end with a mounting hole 1013. The mounting hole adapter 3 canbe assembled to each of the mounting holes 1013 and accordingly thesupporting legs 1012. With the mounting hole adapters 3 assembled to themounting holes 1013, each of the fastening elements 102 can beseparately downward extended through the mounting hole adapter 3, sothat the fastening element 102 with an elastic element 1021 fittedtherearound is held to the mounting hole adapter 3. Therefore, byproviding the mounting hole adapters 3, the mounting rack structure 10can be firmly connected to a heat-producing unit with different types offastening elements, and the cost for making additional molds to producemounting rack structures 10 with differently shaped mounting holes canbe saved.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodimentsthereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in thedescribed embodiments can be carried out without departing from thescope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limitedonly by the appended claims.

1. A mounting hole adapter, comprising a main body having at least oneextension portion vertically extended from one of two opposite faces ofthe main body, each of the extension portions being provided at a distalend with a radially and horizontally outward extended first retainingflange; and the main body defining a central passage and having at leastone second retaining flange located in the central passage, wherein themain body further includes at least one buffer space formed at aradially outer side of the at least one extension portion and the atleast one second retaining flange.
 2. The mounting hole adapter asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one extension portion islocated at a radially outer side of the at least one second retainingflange.
 3. The mounting hole adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein theat least one second retaining flange is radially extended into thecentral passage.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The mounting hole adapter as claimedin claim 1, wherein the first retaining flange has a free edge formedinto a first beveled surface.
 6. The mounting hole adapter as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the at least one second retaining flange has a freeedge formed into a second beveled surface.
 7. The mounting hole adapteras claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one extension portion isprovided with an expanded portion angularly located to one side of thefirst retaining flange. 8-19. (canceled)